doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Orlen Problem?

Does anyone know if Mike Orlen is having problems or is ill?

Usually everyone usually gives Orlen high marks for quality and timely work.

My hunting partner has been waiting 4 months for his shotgun barrel to be returned. Twice he has been told "it is going out tomorrow..." All of this seems out of character for Orlen, and we're wondering if there is some unique problem situation?

Has anyone spoken with him lately, or recently received a barrel job?

JERRY

Just recieved my Hussey back a week ago from him. He had to bend the stock and open the choke on the right barrel. Did it all in 24 hours and was calling to send it back. Have not shot it yet but it looks great! Talked to him everytime I called. Great guy and fantastic work!

I had a Parker 16 barrel done about 2 years ago by Mike and had the same result. Took about 7 months, couple of phone calls saying "its out the door" but nothing. Had the chokes opened, the cones lengthened, the rib extension re-laid, and a re-blue. All work was done well, except the rib re-lay. Also, he did not polish the blue off the sides of the lug. I was looking for perfection and got "Just OK".

I had a set of Fox 16 ga barrels done around the 20th of December. He received them on Saturday, bored the chokes on Sunday and had the gun picked up by UPS Monday. I was shooting the gun Thursday.

Mr. Orlen is apparently set up to do interior barrel work.... opening chokes and lengthening forcing cones... very expeditiously. No doubt his reputation for high quality work at a very reasonable price and with turnaround time that is virtually unsurpassed is built largely on that. I have firsthand knowledge of a dozen such jobs he's done on SxS's....not one took more than 10 days door-to-door and not one choke varied more than .001" from the requested constriction. I've never called the man. I email him with a simple sentence..."OK to send you barrels for such and such work?" He replies promptly (maybe while he's pausing for a sandwich?)"Send them along with a check for $X." I send the barrels with a detailed letter and get 100% satisfaction.

For other types of barrel work I use different smiths. Turnaround times of several months for more complex or time-intensive jobs are pretty common IME. I always get an estimate and allow an additional 30 days before making the first contact. When doing work for others, I've promised it in 6 weeks and gotten the first call "How's my gun coming along?" after 2 weeks. I make sure I finish those jobs in advance of the promise date....and never accept work from that individual again.

Over the years, I have had Mike do a fair amount of gunsmithing for me. Chokes opened three times, one choke tube installation, two stock bends, a rust blue and recoil pad installation.
All reasonably priced, good work and quick turn-around.
On top of this, I sent a Parker to have the stock bent. He returned it and told me that it would crack if he tried. I believed him. Maybe Mike is not perfect but he's honest and he is conscientious. I'll support a guy like that whenever I get the chance. He's a damn fine musician as well.

I have used Mike about 6 times always with excellant results.
Jeff G.

Two experiences with Mike: One double had chokes opened up and another double had choke tubes installed. Great work, very fast turn around time. Satisfied customer

He did some great work for me a couple of years ago, and he did not charge enough for his work...Geo

AlderAdder....What does mike play???...I'm a fiddler myself.
Franc